The Holiday Triplets by Jacqueline Diamond

Abandoned by your friends.”
    â€œYou don’t play, do you?” That would be almost too convenient. Mark suspected Sam would golf with the same fierce competitiveness she displayed in her work. Still, he’d be willing to give it a shot.
    She shook her head. “Never learned.”
    â€œI could teach you.”
    The elevator opened. “Thanks, but I’ll pass.”
    â€œSuch gratitude,” he kidded as they got in.
    â€œI am grateful. To be alive and healthy.” She didn’t sound very happy, though.
    He was well aware of Candy’s release a few minutes earlier, since he’d signed off on her medical condition. The departure of those three precious little ones had clearly added to Sam’s slump. “You think those kids will rise to the demands of parenting?”
    â€œI have to hope so. Candy’s a good person underneath, but she comes from a dysfunctional background. She tends to be impulsive and short-tempered, and so does Jon.” Samantha blew out a long breath. “All the more reason to have people around them who will offer support rather than criticism.”
    Her comment reminded him of his sister. “I grew up with people who wreaked havoc and left it for others to clean up. Support is fine, but there have to be limits.”
    â€œI probably set those limits a bit further out than you do.” They emerged on the first floor and headed toward the staff exit. “But I’m not an enabler, if that’s what you think.”
    An enabler, in substance-abuse terms, was a person who helped a loved one continue self-destructive behavior by easing or removing the consequences. “There’s a fine line between enabling and caring,” he told her. “I ought to know. I’ve crossed it.”
    â€œYou?” Her eyebrows rose. “You never seem to have trouble enforcing the rules.”
    Mark preferred to keep his family troubles private. Still, Samantha had wept in his arms and shared her grief. Plus, he could use some objective feedback about his sister. He’d spent a lot of time since yesterday thinking about her call.
    â€œYou walking home?” he asked. Although he didn’t recall Sam’s address, they occasionally arrived on foot at the same time, so her house must be close by. She nodded.
    â€œMind some company?”
    â€œNot at all. And I promise I won’t harangue you about work unless you deserve it, which depends completely on you.”
    â€œI promise to be utterly blameless and saintly,” Mark announced as they walked past the parking lot.
    â€œSounds boring.” Her mouth curved in an impish grin.
    There was nothing boring or saintly about his reaction to that teasing smile. For the sake of his own peace of mind, Mark seized on the first neutral topic that occurred to him. “How are plans coming for the Christmas party?”
    â€œI have volunteers handling the decorations and themusic. The theme is ‘A Hot and Happy Christmas’—carols set to a salsa beat, Santa draped in a red-and-white serape. You’ll be there, right?”
    He nodded. “I may bring a guest.”
    Sam missed a step. He caught her arm as she stumbled, holding her tightly until she regained her balance. The sudden motion sent a few more wisps of hair tickling around her forehead. Irritated, she yanked on the covered elastic as if to pull it off. Instead, it stuck fast.
    â€œOw!” She added a few pediatrician-appropriate swear words, “Doggone! Blast it,” while pulling on the rubbery cord. All she achieved was to get the thing tangled even more tightly in her hair. “I should have just left it alone. Now it’s stuck. Got a pair of scissors?”
    â€œYou aren’t going to cut off your beautiful hair, are you?” he asked in dismay. There went one of his favorite fantasies, the two of them entwined in bed with Sam on top, blond waves curtaining him.
    Just as well. He